KidsMatter - Australian Primary Schools Health Initiative

NEWS FLASH: Applications are open for the position of KidsMatter Early Childhood Facilitator in Victoria. Applications close 10am AEST 22 January 2010. To view the job ad, click here.

NEWS FLASH: Health Minister announces $6.5 million in funding for KidsMatter Early Childhood. Click here for more information.

KidsMatter Early Childhood pilot sites have been selected! For a list of Australian early childhood services, including preschools and long day care centres, that have been selected for the pilot, click the link below:

KidsMatter Early Childhood pilot sites

About KidsMatter Early Childhood

KidsMatter Early Childhood is a national early childhood mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention initiative specifically developed for early childhood services. It involves the people who have a significant influence on young children’s lives – parents, families, care-givers, child care professionals, teachers, and community agencies – in making a positive difference for young children’s mental health during this important developmental period.

The KidsMatter Early Childhood initiative aims to enable preschool and long day care services to implement evidence based mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention strategies that will:

• Improve the social and emotional health and wellbeing of children from birth to school age,
• Reduce mental health problems amongst children, and
• Achieve greater support for children experiencing mental health difficulties and their families.

KidsMatter Early Childhood uses a risk and protective framework to focus on four components where early childhood services can strengthen the protective factors for children’s mental health and minimise the risk factors. These four areas make up the core content of KidsMatter Early Childhood and are consistent with the KidsMatter Primary Schools initiative:

1. Creating a sense of community
2. Developing children’s social and emotional skills
3. Working with parents and carers
4. Helping children who are experiencing mental health difficulties

To view a brochure with information about the pilot for staff and families, click the link below:

KidsMatter Early Childhood brochure for staff and families

For further information about the pilot, click here.

Piloting KidsMatter Early Childhood

KidsMatter Early Childhood will provide over 100 preschools and long day care centres from across all states and territories in Australia with an opportunity to participate in the pilot of the initiative. The initiative is based on the latest research about how to strengthen children’s social and emotional learning and development.

KidsMatter Early Childhood is being developed in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, beyondblue: the national depression initiative, the Australian Psychological Society, and Early Childhood Australia.